Forgotten Password

[MP_Innovations]

I had a client ask me to help them get into their iMac computer, it is an older A1311 model. I have tried to boot into recovery mode holding Alt, Alt + R, even Alt + S with no luck (I am using a Dell keyboard). At best the screen stays completely white and then I have to reboot the machine and never gets into recovery mode. I am not even sure what operating system is on the machine. The client cant remember what they set their password to and didn't want to lose their data. I picked up the computer from their business and they didn't know where the disk was for recovery. Any help will be greatly appreaciated.

 

[Fishrrman]

"A1311" can mean a number of different iMacs from 2010 up through 2013, I believe.
To provide more info, you need to look up exactly WHICH iMac it is using the serial number.

Is this an account login password, or is it a firmware password?
The second is a MUCH bigger problem.

Why not boot the iMac from an external drive and see what happens?
If you can get to the finder, you -might- be able to back up the internal drive to an external drive.
Then... you can "wipe" the internal drive and start over.
Then, the owner's data can be "migrated back in".

But again, this will work only with a forgotten "account password".

 

[MP_Innovations]

"A1311" can mean a number of different iMacs from 2010 up through 2013, I believe.
To provide more info, you need to look up exactly WHICH iMac it is using the serial number.

Is this an account login password, or is it a firmware password?
The second is a MUCH bigger problem.

Why not boot the iMac from an external drive and see what happens?
If you can get to the finder, you -might- be able to back up the internal drive to an external drive.
Then... you can "wipe" the internal drive and start over.
Then, the owner's data can be "migrated back in".

But again, this will work only with a forgotten "account password".

The SN: W89560H45PC EMC No: 2308. It is for the account login password, the computer loads to the login screen. But unfortunately, that is as far as I can get with it. I am not sure how to boot the iMac with a bootable media since I am not even sure what operating system version is there, unless that doesn't matter. Mac's are not my forte by any means and took it as more of a learning experience and challenge. If it was a Windows machine, I would pop in my Lazesoft bootable USB, restart and boot from it, reset the password and be done. I am just not sure how to go about it with a mac. Thank you for the help.

 

[PaulD-UK]

Everymac.com gives that as a

iMac 21.5-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 (Late 2009)

3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo (E7600)

Pre-Installed MacOS:

X 10.6.1 (10A2155) Snow Leopard

Maximum MacOS:

X 10.13.x* Sierra

 

[Fishrrman]

OK, let's continue with the troubleshooting.

You're using a PC keyboard, right?
Some key options to try if "Alt-R" doesn't work.

Try Windows (key)-R
Try Control-R

Could you get the owner's keyboard?

 

[Ledgem]

Unless they've recorded their password in a text file, you're probably going to have to salvage the data and then wipe the system.

If they do not have FileVault (full disk encryption) enabled (which you'd have some indication of based on boot time - if the boot takes just a few seconds before it gets to the login screen, it's more likely that FileVault is in effect) I'd use Target Disk Mode to essentially turn the computer into an external hard time. For a 2009 system you'll need to connect to it with a Firewire cable; probably use a Thunderbolt cable (assuming your main system has Thunderbolt ports) and use a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter to plug into the Mac (if it's really a Late 2009 21" iMac, it'll be a Firewire 800 port). Once you have the data, have at it!

 

[Fishrrman]

Ledgem --

The OP stated that he wasn't "a Mac guy".
I'm going to guess that he's gonna need more help (in person) than he can get here.

Thanks to PaulD for the info provided in post 4 above.

OP:

You can do what follows, but it's gonna cost you (or the Mac's owner) about $20.
Go on ebay.
There are folks there who will sell you a USB flashdrive with a BOOTABLE COPY of the OS version of your choice pre-installed onto it.
I would suggest OS 10.12 "Sierra" (NOT 10.13 "High Sierra", they are different).

Then, try booting from the USB flashdrive, which should get you into the Mac utilities.
From here, you MIGHT be able to reset the account password (I've never had need to try this feature).

If that doesn't work, you still have options:
Get a USB external drive (HHD or SSD)
Use disk utility (in the mac utilities on the flashdrive) to format/erase it to "Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format".
Then, open the OS installer and install a copy of the OS onto the EXTERNAL USB drive.
When done, set it up with a basic account (just username and password).
Now you can access the internal drive, copy stuff from it, etc.

There are ways to make a complete copy of the internal drive onto an external drive (CarbonCopyCloner, free to use for 30 days).

If you can do this, now (still booted from the external drive), you could:
ERASE the internal drive.
Use CCC to clone the basic, bootable OS you created to the internal drive
Then use "Migration Assistant" to "migrate" the data from the bootable backup BACK TO the internal drive.

Tell the Mac owner to WRITE DOWN THE ACCOUNT PASSWORD.
You/he/she sees the problems that not remembering it can cause!

 

[rpmurray]

2009 iMacs didn't have thunderbolt yet. This particular model came with OS X 10.5 Leopard.

You may try the processes that Quinn from Snazzy Labs uses here. Watch the whole thing first before you try anything.

 

[Fishrrman]

No.

See Ledgem's post 4 above.
The iMacs looks to have shipped with 10.6.1 (at least) and may have since been upgraded.
The video posted in #8 is stated to be for 10.5 and EARLIER only...

 

[rpmurray]

Yeah, I was looking at the 24-inch models instead of the 21.

The link I listed does have a link for those using a newer OS, up through at least Yosemite.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

First off, that Mac does not support Recovery or Internet Recovery. Recovery is possible on some 2010 Macs with upgraded EFI Firmware and all 2011 Macs that originally came with OS X Lion. (I own a 2008 iMac that's in a similar situation). This Mac is just too old.

You need to boot from either an OS X Install DVD (although chances of the DVD drive working in a computer that old are pretty slim) or from a thumb drive with a bootable version of OS X/macOS, very much in the way you described booting a PC. That thumb drive will boot to OS X/macOS Utilities, where you can then access Terminal for password reset. To create a bootable thumb drive: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
Note that Mac can run a maximum of macOS 10.13.6 (High Sierra)

Depending on the version of macOS/OS X in use, there may be an option for using iCloud to reset the password: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202860

 

[Ledgem]

Ledgem --

The OP stated that he wasn't "a Mac guy".
I'm going to guess that he's gonna need more help (in person) than he can get here.

Not really sure what you're getting at, especially given the advice you posted. It seems like you were going down a more complicated route than what I'm suggesting (although it would likely be cheaper).

Presumably he's a technically literate guy if he has a system in place for system recovery of Windows-based systems. I assume he knows his way around a Thunderbolt cable and can figure out where to get the necessary adapter. Holding down "T" can also easily be done on a Windows-based keyboard without needing to worry about the mapping of the keys. Is there anything easier than turning the computer into an external hard drive? Seems the fastest and easiest way to get the job done, even though it may require buying a cheap adapter.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Can we try this first before trying any other things? If the owner has tied the iMac with his Apple ID.

Recovery Mode is your next best bet​

You'll need to boot your Mac into Recovery Mode in order to access the password reset tool. I've found the easiest way to do that is to start by turning your Mac off.

The trick to getting into Recovery Mode will depend on the kind of Mac you have. For Macs with an Intel processor, press and hold the Command and R keys on your keyboard, then press the power button. Hold in Command+R until you see a progress bar show up below the Apple logo. You can also get into Recovery Mode by restarting your Mac and trying to time the keyboard combo of Command+R (Window + R on windows keyboard), but in my experience, starting with your Mac turned off is the most reliable method.

With your Mac now in Recovery Mode, click on Utilities in the menu bar followed by Terminal. A new window will show up, waiting for you to enter a command. Type "resetpassword" as one word, without the quotes, and press Return.

Close the Terminal window, where you will then find the Reset Password tool. Follow the prompts, which include signing in with your Apple ID and then selecting the user account you need to change the password for.

 

[Fishrrman]

ledgem wrote:
"Holding down "T" can also easily be done on a Windows-based keyboard without needing to worry about the mapping of the keys. Is there anything easier than turning the computer into an external hard drive? Seems the fastest and easiest way to get the job done, even though it may require buying a cheap adapter."

I'm going out on a limb and going to guess that the OP doesn't have another Mac, and therefore can't use target disk mode.

But the OP seems to have "gone missing".
No further updates on what he's tried...

 

[Ledgem]

ledgem wrote:
"Holding down "T" can also easily be done on a Windows-based keyboard without needing to worry about the mapping of the keys. Is there anything easier than turning the computer into an external hard drive? Seems the fastest and easiest way to get the job done, even though it may require buying a cheap adapter."

I'm going out on a limb and going to guess that the OP doesn't have another Mac, and therefore can't use target disk mode.

But you can - it will mount as an external drive. You'd need to have an extension to allow Windows to read HFS drives (or APFS - Paragon sells software to allow Windows to access either). The only potential sticking point here is whether it'll work in connecting with a Firewire port on one end and Thunderbolt on the other.